Seriously! Everyone knows that Mike Guentzel quit on his own accord and wasn't pushed out; there is no way a class act such as Don Lucia would force a great coach like Mike Guentzel out. Why couldn’t it happen?
The funny thing is every once in a while when there isn't much as far as real news going on in the Twin Cities Partick Reusse will put a shot across the bow of the Gopher hockey team. I don’t blame him it sells newspapers and people respond to it. Like obedient sheep the Gopher faithful take offense to it. I think people forgot to mention that it was an opinion piece. What is more funny is the comments that follow Reusse's articles.
Mainstream media. That's what they call us, right?
Apparently, the plan here in the mainstream has been to accept the tall tale that Mike Guentzel willingly resigned after 14 seasons as a Gophers hockey assistant, even though it's an open topic of conversation in WCHA circles and among former Gophers that he was forced out by coach Don Lucia.
Guentzel can't confirm this to media members, of course. The 45-year-old has aspirations to run a Division I program, and publicly admitting that Lucia chose him as the scapegoat for the horrendous 2007-08 season would not be helpful in that pursuit.
There's no doubt that the Lucia ego is sufficiently large that he's not going to blame a seventh-place finish in the WCHA on his own stewardship. And since The Don is joined at the hip with John Hill, his other assistant, that left Guentzel to take the fall. (Read the whole story here)
This is one of my favorite comments on the article.
Such short memories
Somehow the Don's critics have forgotten how he recruited a guy with below average skating skills named Grant Potulny. He certainly was not a prima-donna but the Don saw his leadership skills and character and Grant became the best captain the Gophers had in many years and led them to 2 NCAA championships. I agree with the Don that it's easy to be a good coach with good players - check the record at CC. However, to make the personable and hard working Guentzel a scapegoat (if that is indeed the case!) is not a class act.
No way, the most amazing comment is above that one:
ReplyDelete"Is it just a coincidence that people are talking about a lack of team cohesiveness, or is it maybe due to the fact that they can't hold their underage drinking parties at Blarney's anymore?"
Yeah that one is funny as well. :)
ReplyDeleteRandom thoughts:
ReplyDelete* I don't want to say Reusse is a D-BAG, but his favorite "adult beverage" is vinegar and water. Of course, Pat was not available to confirm or deny this "fact".
* Reusse is still bothered that Minnesota now recruits players from outside the state. Get over it.
I should turn away a Thomas Vanek or Phil Kessel because they aren't from Minnesota? Please.
* Journalism 101
Sell more papers <> Make sh*t up
Sell more papers == Write better
Good writing == Hard work
Good writers <> Red Star-Tribune
* You spent your kids entire life showing OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS how to play hockey. YOUR KID gets a chance to play D-1, and you have NO CHANCE in your current situation to see him/her play. You might consider making an opportunity. If Guentzel is half the man I think he is, he would too. I am not surprised.
* Sometimes IT GETS WEIRD. Lucia and Guentzel BOTH GOT PAID. Nobody owes either of them jack. The both have National titles and WCHA championships on their resume. Short of the Stanley Cup, THAT IS A WONDERFUL LIFE.
* I don't know about Guentzel, but I know Don Lucia IS a good guy off the ice. I have had my fill of coaches who look and talk the part, but don't walk it. Lucia is not one of those guys. I have a tremendous personal respect for him as a person.
* I think it's safe to say some people would have considered Herb Brooks to be something of a prick.
If he didn't win in 1980, every pundit and hack sportswriter in the U.S. would have "known" the reason why. People talk. Such is life.
* Gotta have something to wrap fish and line the bird cage... It might as well have Pat's face on it.
Go Gophers!
I really like the star and tribs sports page, the rest of the paper is a leftist rag that isn't fit to line a cat liter box.
ReplyDeleteBOO GOPHERS.
ReplyDelete